Lobbyists spending down this year, Northrop Grumman leads the way for defense sector

Some of Washington's biggest spenders are spending less than
they use to.

An analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics shows lobbyist spending dropped in the first quarter of 2013. The exceptions were
those groups involved in some hot-button issues, including gun rights interest
groups.

The CRP report shows lobbyists at the federal level spent
$796.2 million in the most recent quarter, a drop of about 3.5 percent from the
$825.2 million spent in the last quarter of 2012. The 2013 amount is 8 percent
below the spending level from the same time last year and 16.7 percent below
what was spent in 2010 when expenditures peaked at $3.55 billion.

Using the first quarter data, CRP estimates spending
should be between $2.95 billion and $3.08 billion this year, the lowest since
2007's $2.8 billion.

The gun control debate garnered big money from lobbying
groups on both sides of the issue. The gun rights interest group spent $3.8
million during the first quarter of the year, up $2.1 million from its
expenditures during the last quarter of 2012. The spending represents efforts
by the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America and the National
Shooting Sports Foundation, as well as other smaller guns rights groups.

Gun control interest group spent $275,900 in the first
quarter of this year - a far cry from guns rights advocates - but a huge
increase from the $60,000 it spent in the last quarter of 2012. Lobbyists
included in these figures represent Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the Brady
Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Top spenders first quarter of 2013

Here's the list of biggest spenders in the first quarter of
2013. The top six were all in the list the previous quarter, the bottom four
were not:

1.
US Chamber of Commerce - $16.8 million

2.
National Association of Realtors - $8.5 million

3.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield - $6.2 million

4.
Northrop Grumman - $5.9 million

5.
General Electric - $5.7 million

6. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of
America - $5.3 million

7.
American Medical Association - $5.1 million

8.
Exxon Mobil - $4.8 million

9.
United Technologies - $4.7 million

10.
Comcast Corp. - $4.5 million

Defense sector spending

Northrop Grumman, based in Falls Church, Va., is the only
defense sector contractor to land in the overall top 10 in spending for the
first quarter of 2013. It also led the way for defense spending in 2011-2012,
according to CRP.

The bulk of defense spending goes to Republican candidates,
but is fairly evenly divided among the top five companies. CRP reports the
defense sector has contributed a total of $150.8 million over the last two
decades, with 57 percent going to Republican candidates.